The Nasdaq composite index surged 82 points, or 3%, on Tuesday in part because Compaq Computer reported it is comfortable with Wall Street’s estimates for its year 2001 earnings.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 72 points, or 0.7%, but RV stocks were mixed on Tuesday.
Among RV stocks, both Coachmen and Thor took it on the chin. Coachmen declined 7/8, or 8%, to close at 10 1/8 and Thor lost 1 7/8, or 7%, to close at 23 11/16.
Monaco also declined 3/4, or 4%, to close at 20.
Heading... Read more

Although investment firm AG Edwards & Sons believes Monaco Coach Corp. will increase its Class A motorhome market share this year, it has lowered its year 2001 earnings estimate for the company.
AG Edwards now believes Monaco will earn $1.96 per share during 2001. Earlier, it estimated Monaco would earn $2.40 a share this year.
The investment firm surveyed 45 RV dealers during December and a significant number reported that retail demand fell-off sharply late last year. AG Edwards does not believe... Read more

Gulf Stream Coach Inc. plans to give away a Class A motorhome and a travel trailer in a contest that is intended to attract more viewers to its Web site and dealerships, according to Brian Shea, president.
The contest was launched last week during the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa.
Information about the contest is found on the www.winrv.com Web site, which is hot-linked to Gulf Stream’s site, www.gulfstreamcoach.com.
Interested persons can register for the contest online on the Gulf Stream site,... Read more

Dura Automotive Systems Inc., parent of RV industry supplier firm Atwood Mobile Products, warned Wall Street today (Jan. 22) that its fourth quarter earnings would be well below market analysts’ expectations.
The Nasdaq Stock Market listed company believes its fourth quarter earnings will range from 15 to 20 cents a share. Wall Street had estimated Dura would earn 68 to 85 cents a share during the fourth quarter.
Dura announced during November that it would close an RV components plant in Elkhart,... Read more

The Nasdaq composite’s brief winning streak ended Monday as it closed down 12 points, or 0.5%.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 9 points, or 0.1%, on Monday.
Among RV stocks, Coachmen gave back most of last week’s gains. It declined 1 1/16, or 9%, on Monday to close at 11.
Heading in the opposite direction was SMC, which closed above 3 for the first time in months. It gained 11/16, or 29%, to close at 3 1/16.
Here is a roundup of the other RV company stock activity on Monday:
Fleetwood... Read more

Diesel pusher motorhome chassis supplier Spartan Motors Inc. has completed the repurchase of 2 million shares, or 16%, of its stock.
The open market buyback of 770,000 shares during November and December of last year resulted in the company reaching its goal of 2 million shares repurchased. The 770,000 shares were repurchased at an average price of $2.54 each. As of Monday afternoon (Jan. 22) Spartan stock was trading around $2.19 a share.
Spartan had a little over 10.5 million shares outstanding... Read more

Profit taking lowered the stock values of several major RV companies on Friday.
After two days of sharp gains, Fleetwood, Monaco, National RV and Winnebago incurred losses Friday.
Monaco was impacted the most, declining 1 5/16, or 6%, to close at 20.
Fleetwood declined 3/4, or 5%, to close at 15, and Winnebago fell 7/8, or 5%, to close at 18.
National RV declined 3/16, or 2%, to close at 11 3/4.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 91 points, or 0.9%, Friday because an earnings warning... Read more

Myers Industries Inc., a supplier of plastic parts to the RV industry, announced it will report lower than expected earnings for the fourth quarter and the full year 2000.
The American Stock Exchange-listed company expects to earn 21 cents a share during the fourth quarter, compared with the market analysts’ consensus forecast of 42 cents a share.
For the full year 2000, Myers expects to earn $1.11 a share, compared with $1.41 a share earned in 1999.
Myers, primarily a supplier of rubber and plastic... Read more

California’s electric power crisis is affecting Fleetwood Enterprises Inc., the RV industry’s largest producer, according to the Press-Enterprise newspaper of Riverside, Calif.
Rolling blackouts occurred in California this week (Jan. 15-19), and Fleetwood was one of the large companies left without power because it signed a contract with its power company allowing its service to be interrupted, in exchange for lower rates, according to the newspaper.
In an article dated Jan. 18, Fleetwood Vice... Read more

Central Indiana RV dealers are cautiously optimistic about sales during 2001, according to a report by the Indianapolis Star newspaper, which quoted several dealers who exhibited at the Central Indiana RV and Camping Show in Indianapolis.
One dealer, Mark Stout, owner of Mark’s RV and Boat Sales, said 2000 was his worst year in 15 years of business. Stout also told the newspaper that 1999 was his best year in business.
However, Ed Peterson, owner of Lafayette Travel Trailer Sales, said his year... Read more

Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) facilities were named the No. 1 bargain travel destination in the January/February 2001 edition of Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Guide.
However, a main reason why the campground franchise operation received the destination was because you do not need an RV to stay at a KOA location.
The article pointed out that KOA also provides “Kamping Kabins” for guests without RVs.
Read More →

Five of the six largest RV manufacturers saw big stock price gains on Thursday as did the major stock market indices.
The big winners Thursday were Fleetwood, Coachmen, Monaco, Thor and Winnebago.
Coachmen stock soared 1 3/16, or 11%, to close at 11 15/16 and Fleetwood stock climbed 1 1/4, or 9%, to close at 15 3/4.
Winnebago also climbed 1 1/4, or 7%, to close at 18 7/8 and Thor increased 1 11/16, or 7%, to close at 26.
Monaco also gained 1, or 5%, to close at 21 5/16.
Meanwhile, the Nasdaq composite... Read more

The Organization of Oil Producing Countries (OPEC) announced today (Jan. 17) that it will lower oil production quotas 5% beginning Feb. 1 in order to prevent oil prices from falling.
The producing nations decided to lower output because they believe the softening U.S. economy will reduce demand. They also see demand declining because the winter heating season is nearing its peak.
Read More →

Four of the six largest RV manufacturers saw big stock price gains on Wednesday despite the fact OPEC also announced it will lower output 5% beginning Feb. 1.
The big winners Wednesday were Fleetwood, Monaco, National RV and Thor.
Fleetwood stock soared 1 5/16, or 10%, to close at 14 1/2, and National RV’s stock climbed 1 1/8, or 10%, to close at 12 3/8.
Monaco gained 1 1/4, or 7%, to close at 20 5/16, and Thor climbed 1 5/16, or 6%, to close at 24 5/16.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average... Read more

Retail dealership chain Holiday RV Superstores Inc., which does business as Recreation USA, has launched a free “Sunday Service” program that involves technicians making minor repairs to RVs at six campgrounds in Florida.
The program was unveiled today at the Tampa Supershow, the kick-off of the RV retail buying season in Florida.
If the pilot program is successful in Florida, Recreation USA will extend the program to California, New Mexico, and possibly some other states in 12 months.
Recreation... Read more